The Eagles are back. Philadelphia therapists are bracing for it
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Philly therapist Lisa Corbin started noticing a pattern in her counseling sessions come football season.
- When asking clients about their week, Corbin says the answers typically turn to: "The Eagles lost. It sucked," or "The Eagles won." "It blew my mind that's what they think of whenever they think of their week."
The big picture: Philadelphia has the most loyal fans in the NFL, and counselors like Corbin are bracing for that fandom to affect moods as the Birds kick off their season Friday against Green Bay in Brazil.
- It's particularly a Philly thing, according to Corbin, who's from New York.
- The director of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's counseling program told Axios she hadn't seen such a stark impact on moods when the Jets or Giants play.
Why it matters: Sports fandom "meets a lot of psychological needs," says Sandy Capaldi, psychiatry professor and director of UPenn's Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety — chief among them, a sense of belonging.
- There can be drawbacks, too. Many fans are stressed and anxious during games.
Stunning stat: One study during the 2006 World Cup in Germany found ER visits for cardiovascular issues spiked in the Munich area on days the national team played, compared to non-game days that year and the same days in previous years.
Zoom in: Jamie Pagliei, aka the Philly Sports Guy, tells Axios his stress level is a "10" during games. His ex-wife mentioned at couples therapy sessions that he'd sometimes wake up or scare their kids by yelling at the TV.
- "Eventually, I wasn't allowed to watch sports in the house," he says.
What they're saying: Capaldi says — and research backs that — only a sliver of fans suffer negative consequences or engage in maladaptive behaviors, such as violence, binge drinking and problem gambling, while watching their teams.
We've certainly seen that here.
- The pole-climbing pandemonium when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. Or the destructive revelry that overtook the city in 2008, when the Phillies won the World Series.
- That night, police arrested more than 70 people for vandalism, assault and other offenses.
Yes, but: Eagles fans usually find healthier ways to deal with the elation and deflation.
- One of Corbin's clients drinks 20 ounces of water before every game — part of a superstition they think could help the team win.
- She says fan superstitions are mostly harmless "traditions," connected to positive memories, that make them feel in control.
When the Eagles lose, it's helpful for fans to talk about their feelings, Corbin says.
- And if nothing else, engaging in a healthy dose of "proactive pessimism" — a coping strategy that professors Daniel Wann and Jeffrey James write in their seminal book on sports fandom can help blunt "the sting of poor performance."
Ultimately, there's a case to be made that Philadelphia — for all its shenanigans — has the healthiest fans in the country.
- Wann and James concluded that fandom can benefit your self-esteem, reduce feelings of alienation and help better communicate your feelings.
To that we say, go Birds!